YouTuber Park We (박위), husband of former Secret member Song Ji-eun (송지은), recently sparked controversy after releasing CCTV footage related to a KTX train accident. As that storm continues, the unique friendships between Park We's father, renowned director Park Chan-hong (박찬홍), and several actresses have resurfaced. His deep, father-daughter-like relationships with actresses Choi Kang-hee (최강희), Park Jin-hee (박진희), and Yoon So-hee (윤소희), once seen as heartwarming stories, are now drawing renewed attention and debate among Korean netizens due to Park We's ongoing controversy.
The current debate stems from a YouTube video Park We uploaded in 2024 titled "First Chuseok at My In-Laws' House." In the video, Song Ji-eun, who was preparing to marry Park We at the time, visited her future in-laws. The video also featured Yoon So-hee, whom the public refers to as Park Chan-hong's "adopted daughter." Following the video's release, some viewers began to question whether the Park family treated Song Ji-eun and Yoon So-hee differently.
The video shows Yoon So-hee arriving at the Park family home earlier than Song Ji-eun, even greeting her in pajamas that day. Her interactions with the Park family appeared natural, as if she were their own daughter. Beyond their close demeanor, details during the pre-meal prayer and the meal itself also sparked discussion. As Park We, Song Ji-eun, Yoon So-hee, and Park We's parents prayed together at the dining table, some netizens noted that Yoon So-hee's name was mentioned first in the prayer. Additionally, only Song Ji-eun used different tableware during the meal, leading to questions about whether she was being treated differently.
Furthermore, Park Chan-hong's praise for Yoon So-hee, a graduate of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), where he directly stated, "So-hee is very smart," in front of Song Ji-eun, has also been re-examined. Some netizens believe that the Park family seemed to show exceptional care for Yoon So-hee, who has a close relationship with the family, making Song Ji-eun, who was about to marry into the family, appear somewhat out of place. This has further fueled discussions about whether the prospective daughter-in-law was being neglected.
As the controversy continues to escalate, an old video released in 2022 has recently gone viral across various Korean online forums and social media platforms. In that video, Choi Kang-hee appeared on Park We's YouTube channel, "Wiracle," for the segment "Wiracle Taxi," where she shared the special bond she formed with director Park Chan-hong when she first entered the entertainment industry.
Choi Kang-hee recalled that when she worked with Park Chan-hong in the past, the director's words became a crucial source of strength for her to continue her acting career. Especially after her father passed away, Park Chan-hong made a special visit to her home, offering her immense comfort. Choi Kang-hee revealed that Park Chan-hong suddenly appeared at her house and told her, "From now on, I am your father. Call me Dad!" She confessed that the emotion these words brought her was indescribable, and they provided her with a different kind of warmth amidst the grief of losing her father.
She also mentioned that she later learned actress Park Jin-hee also called Park Chan-hong "Dad," making her laugh and say, "It turns out he's everyone's dad, like some kind of headmaster!" This anecdote was initially seen as a warm and amusing share, revealing to the public the deep bond between Park Chan-hong and the actors, which went beyond a typical working relationship.
However, this once heartwarming story has now become a focal point of discussion due to the controversy surrounding Park We. Following Park Jin-hee and Yoon So-hee, Choi Kang-hee's special bond with Park Chan-hong has also drawn attention, leading to different interpretations of these father-daughter-like relationships among netizens.
It is understood that Park Chan-hong's connections with the three actresses originated from different projects. Choi Kang-hee and Park Jin-hee both met the director through the KBS 2TV drama "Thorn Flower" (비단향꽃무), which aired in 2001, and subsequently developed a deep friendship. Yoon So-hee formed her bond with director Park Chan-hong while appearing in the tvN drama "Memory" in 2016.
From being regarded as heartwarming "father-daughter relationships" in the past, to now being re-examined and amplified due to Park We's controversy, Park Chan-hong's friendships with multiple actresses have unexpectedly become a topic of discussion. Why these anecdotes, originally born out of care and support, are now leading to different interpretations at this time, continues to fuel ongoing debate.
